We are ‘social Animals’ and depriving us of human contacts and socialising came as a shock to us all, to the point that some people are still finding it hard to follow the guidelines set to ease the burden of our current situation-the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still on its path of mass destruction. We might have the vaccines now, but it is a long way away before life goes back to how we knew it. Spending so much time at home can be quite tough for a lot of people, so we need to find new things to do. This pandemic has been going on for almost a year, and it is fair to say that we’ve learnt that we can have a meaningful life without the things we often rely on. Here are some ideas to try during lockdown and restrictions:
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Limited screen time: Do not stay glued to the television screen, overconsuming the news can be very detrimental. Too much of it will definitely send you into panic and make you anxious. Whilst binge watching Netflix seems appealing now, do not make it a habit.
Read: Reading is the perfect way to be transported into another world, providing you with a temporary distraction from what is going on. This is a great opportunity to relax and feel safe even if for a short time. The shift from reality to a made-up world will do a world of good to your mental health. You can even give audiobooks a go if you cannot get access to books. Open Culture is a good place to start. You can download free audiobooks, mostly classics and you’ll find great works of fiction, poetry and non-fiction, by such authors as Twain, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Orwell, Vonnegut, Nietzsche, Austen, Shakespeare, Asimov, HG Wells, and many more. Visit our My Life in Books series for book recommendations from our readers.
Keep Connected: Let’s face it, most of the time we are too busy to keep nurturing our relationships or connect deeply with family and friends. This ghastly virus is now providing us with an opportunity—though not under the ideal circumstance—it’s time that we have right now. Now is the time to chose who you really want to talk to and be present for. Connect to the people you care about and have meaningful conversations because right now you are not in a rush.
Start a new hobby: If there is something that you’ve always wanted to do, now is the time to give it a go. With so many YouTube videos, anything seems to be possible, technology seems to be one thing that hasn’t gone on paused.
1-You can learn to dance on YouTube. Passion4dancing teaches styles such as salsa, rumba and tango. It helps if your partner lives in the same house, of course.
2-Why not sign up to the Fitness Blender which boasts 600 free workout videos, including Pilates and kickboxing.
3- If cooking isn’t your bag, why don’t you give it a go with these free cooking and baking lessons: Wagamama has free virtual Asian cooking lessons called Wok From Home on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Bakery Bread Ahead offers baking tutorials on its Instagram page. Pages like Ki Menu Tanto and Cook and Share can be great sources of inspiration for amateur cooks.
Meditation: During this stressful time, for many of us the anxiety level has gone off the scale. If you have children, especially teenagers, they too are very unsettled and mediation can really help them cope. Headspace is a good place to start, the guided meditations are really helpful. At the moment you can sign up for free to access Headspace.
Sign up for a free course online: Online learning offers a new way to explore subjects you’re passionate about. If you do have the extra time, find a course to perhaps enhance your professional skills or something new to learn. Future Learn offers a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world, and most are free and accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop. You can easily fit your learning around your daily routine.
Self Care: Practicing self-care isn’t always easy, with busy modern living most people have stressful jobs, a never-ending to-do list, are busy prioritising kids, or too consumed with technology to make time for themselves. Me-time is usually last on our agenda and getting started with self-care can be challenging, but now is the time to get it right. Make time for yourself; indulging in long baths and establishing a daily regime focusing on yourself – the daily walks and any form of exercise can be life-changing.
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